as far as pressure washing your engine and under carriage, I have done it to my 85 for the past 13+ years off and on. where I use to work, we did all the equipment, roadgraders, dumptrucks, streetsweepers, pickups, cars, you name it. never seem to have any problems. the gassers maybe wet plugs, distributor. just blow out with air.

I would use my ramps and do the bottom first, then do the top down and all the dirt, oil etc... would wash down and be clean. then use an air hose to blow things off.
the washer I used was a hot water one. just don`t want to hold it onto the IP, just give it a couple quick hits.

Iam running synthetic in the Diff and have no leaks there the trans or the engine.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

as far as pressure washing your engine and under carriage, I have done it to my 85 for the past 13+ years off and on. where I use to work, we did all the equipment, roadgraders, dumptrucks, streetsweepers, pickups, cars, you name it. never seem to have any problems. the gassers maybe wet plugs, distributor. just blow out with air.

I would use my ramps and do the bottom first, then do the top down and all the dirt, oil etc... would wash down and be clean. then use an air hose to blow things off.
the washer I used was a hot water one. just don`t want to hold it onto the IP, just give it a couple quick hits.

Iam running synthetic in the Diff and have no leaks there the trans or the engine.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie for the vote of confidence!

I had the pressure washer out yesterday and "practiced" on our schools truck It's engine was/is leaking oil . . . now it is mostly cleaned, I even lightly went over the distributor . . . Of course if I keep the nozzle back a little bit, it doesn't blast quite so much, it is a gas powered unit and runs up to a max of 2200 psi with the 0 degree nozzle, I use the 15 degree . . . also I have 150' of 3/4" garden hose laying in the HOT AZ sun, YEAH FOR SOLAR POWER! . . . doesn't take long for it to get to "Too Hot To Handle!" stage

I plan to wash it down this afternoon after work, so engine will be "cold" (well, about 100F as that is ambient temp!) then go "the long way home" with humidity around 20% it should dry pretty quickly!

Once I get the other little neglected thing repaired/maintained . . .I'm interested in the tach . . . I found the "Tiny Tach" at http://www.tinytach.com/tinytach/diesel.php but would prefer something a little more "Factory" or "Euro" looking . . .

I've driven many VW and Mercedes diesels in AZ, and they all run hot when it's that hot outside. Especially in stop and go, in town driving. Climbing mountain grades in 115 degree heat causes the engine to run hot. Even my Mom's Cadillac Diesel ran hot going over the mountains between Phoenix and Sedona. These were new cars at the time, so there was nothing worn out. Diesels produce more heat climbing hills, than a gas engine does.

Temps over 115 are near the top of the safe operating range. You have to watch your temperature gauge and take it easy.

Although 95* and high humidity feel hot to your body, it's easier for your car. The extra 20-25 degrees makes a huge difference to your car.

Sprayed it down with Simple Green, then used the presure washer, sprayed it down again w/SG, then use pw

Did diff, tranny, engine, and anything else that looked dirty around there! (well it looks like I missed the air intake hose)

Tomorrow I wash & wax . . .change diff & tranny oils . . . What size is the allen wrench needed for those? may get to changing out the brake and power steering fluid too . . .then if I feel up to it, may track down the door vacuum problems . . . then . . . I'll probably just take a break!

Funny thing happened after I was all done, started right up went to take off . . . didn't want to go, wouldn't rev up, slowly it got (yeah, slower than normal "slow") up to 10 mph in 1st . . . I pulled over and check the linkage, reved it a few time from under the hood, and off I went, must have hit something works fine now! Drove it about 10 min, (got up to 85C) shut it off for about 15 min, then drove it home about 10 min (got up to 90C) All dry!

Now you have to get some Mc guires paint cleaner and detail the fire wall, inner fenders etc..... I did that when I pulled my engine. that will add $500 to the value .

charlie

I'm gonna clean and polish the outside first! I do have the Meguiars Gold Class liquid wax to put on it today, should make the exterior shine again! If needed I have a comercial low speed buffer for the hood . . .

The diff is 14mm, the transmission is smaller, something you have around from a normal allen wrench set.

OK, thanks, I'll have to roll under there before I head to NAPA today, just to make sure I have what I need . . . since I'm "shopping" mights well get everything in one trip . . . its 30+ miles one way . . .

While washing it I discovered it had this layer of grime, not sure if it is a result of S. Cal or just acumulation of not washing it . . .

I ended up using Meguiars Cleaner Wax, that my 90 yr old neighbor gave me, as he said he wasn't gonna ever be using it! That took the grunge off, but I had to use a toothbrush to the trunk badges . . . the hood I ended up using a polishing compound and my buffer, made it look a lot better, but still not great! It seems like that it was repainted at some time (I have a reciept for "metal work" from some body shop) looks good from 20'

I ended up only changing the tranny oil yesterday . . . it was a 14mm allen . . .All I could do with a 1/2" breaker to get the fill plug out . . . it had dark red fluid, smelled like auto tranny fluid! I put the plug back in, dumped in 8 oz of 30wt, then drained that, then I put Mobil1 10W30 synthetic in it . . . should be happier now

Car is looking good Shawn! I like the fact that it has no dents/bumps or surface rust

Well . . .it has a few little dents on the pass side door, just below the trim, but you have to be at the right angle . . . and drivers side front marker looks like it was replaced due to a opperator error (OE) . . . just a little dent & scuff . . . but over all looks pretty good, It is FAR from a show car, and will be my DD . . .so it just needs to keep running

It looks great Shawn. I'm going to post a link to the one I had. Hopefully it'll work and you can see what I mean by a twin. I think you can significantly improve the look of yours by removing the bowtie license plate holder from your front bumper as I did with mine. Easy job and makes the front look a lot cleaner.